I'm stumped. Clunking from front end.

[jukesandz]

More specifically from the front driver's side.

I searched, and everywhere everyone said, "control arms! control arms!" So, I checked all the bushings...

Upper:



Tie rod:



Lower:



Metal stuff and other bushings and stuff:



And they all seem to be fine. I jacked the car up and ran my finger along all the bushings I could find and I didn't get any oil. Also, I torqued the wheel bolts as much as I possibly could.

I only notice the clunking noise when I'm driving at 10 mph down my crappy unpaved road and I go over a little bump. It's only on the left side. I think the car drives fine, and I never notice it while cruising or on the highway.

I'm not a suspension expert. Any help is super super appreciated. What's your take?

- Joe

Oh yeah, and the car has <50,000 miles, so it seemed weird that I could be having CA problems already.

[ewuzh]

In that first picture, you are looking at the ball joints on the control arms. Follow those arms all way back and you will see the control arm bushings that hold the arm to the upper suspension bracket. Those are the ones that are most likely dead.

[jukesandz]

OK I'll check right now.

And WOW! That was a fast reply haha.

[jukesandz]

They seem to be OK too. No oily residue or anything.

[badbiturbo]

i kinda got the same problem, its a battle between it being the comtrol arms or the motor mounts. Does it makes noise when you accelerate, shift?

[IamEzraM]

I had the exact same noises for almost 2 years before I had someone look at it, I had a broken ball joint and junk bushings. Those control arms looked like mine when they were completely shot and it was metal rubbing on metal. Also, you can't tell just by looking at the ball joint if it's ok, you need to get a long wrench and put a lot of lateral pressure on the ball joint and look for metal pieces from the inside poking out into the rubber housing.

[b5s4tt]

tie rod end or balljoint. control arms are usually more of a crunching sound

[stevea6/z28]

check sway bar bushings

[jukesandz]

i kinda got the same problem, its a battle between it being the comtrol arms or the motor mounts. Does it makes noise when you accelerate, shift?

Nope. Only when going over little bumps really slowly. I've broken some motor mounts on my chipped Passat. I don't think it's that.

I had the exact same noises for almost 2 years before I had someone look at it, I had a broken ball joint and junk bushings. Those control arms looked like mine when they were completely shot and it was metal rubbing on metal. Also, you can't tell just by looking at the ball joint if it's ok, you need to get a long wrench and put a lot of lateral pressure on the ball joint and look for metal pieces from the inside poking out into the rubber housing.

OK Soo just like push on it? LOL I'm a suspension newb. What exactly am I looking for when I push?

[IamEzraM]

can't hear anything in the video, but yeah you put a lot of pressure sideways on the ball joint, and either look for, or feel with your finger, metal moving around inside the rubber seal. Everything on my car looked fine too, you should just take it somewhere, because if one of your ball joints are broken, that pressure goes to some other part of your suspension

[md s4]

umm, is that a split in your upper control arm bushing in your last pic ?

[BlkdoutS4]

if its only on one side and only happens over bumps then you could have a blown shock

[jukesandz]

can't hear anything in the video, but yeah you put a lot of pressure sideways on the ball joint, and either look for, or feel with your finger, metal moving around inside the rubber seal. Everything on my car looked fine too, you should just take it somewhere, because if one of your ball joints are broken, that pressure goes to some other part of your suspension

Ugh yeah, it's hard to hear in the video. It's really quiet. I'll try your test tomorrow in the daylight.

umm, is that a split in your upper control arm bushing in your last pic ?

I don't think so. You had me for a second, but then I looked at the other pics and they all have that little black line. Maybe??

if its only on one side and only happens over bumps then you could have a blown shock

Really? With <50,000 miles? Gonna STFA for blown shocks now.

[Diavan]

You may check your 18mm subframe bushing bolts. See if u can tighten them a bit.

[ewuzh]

I don't think so. You had me for a second, but then I looked at the other pics and they all have that little black line. Maybe??

They don't look nearly as bad as mine when I changed mine, but they do look like they are worn/torn.

All four:

[Militant-Grunt]

I see cracking.

[quickglx]

That cracking on the bushing is normal, bet all of your cars are doing that. Get a large set of slip joint pliers and compress the upper arm ball joints. I'd place a bet on the upper rear. Check the bottom ones in the same way. Once they get bad enough you can shake the wheel from top to bottom and feel movement/ watch the joint play. Chances are yours aren't that bad yet. Just be sure once you replace your arms to tighten the bushing pinch bolt with the arm at loaded resting position or your bushings will end up like the pic above. Not a bad idea to loosen/ tighten them if you lower your car too.